Roof ventilator



March l2, 1957 J. P. JOHNSON 2,784,660

ROOF VENTILATOR Filed Maren 17. 1955 s sheets-sheet 1 il IHHHII March12, 1957 J. P. JOHNSON 2,784,660

I ROOF VENTILATOR 3 Shelets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17. 19,55

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sa zL/ 4.5L/ 53-/2 \& M 22 INVENTOR. JAY R JOHNSON March 12, 1957 J. P.JOHNSON 2,784,660

ROOF VENTILATOR Filed March 17, 1953 B Sheets-5heet 3 INVENTOR. .TAY F`TOH/VSO/V .A TTOR/VEYS nited States Patent O i ROOF VENTILATOR Jay P.Johnson, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Swartwout Company, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 17, 1953, Serial No.342,796

17 Claims. (Cl. 98-42) This invention relates to ventilators and moreparticularly to improvements in gravity roof ventilators of the multipletype.

In the design and construction of multiple gravity roof ventilators oneproblem that has persistently resisted solution prior to my inventionhas been that of reducing the height of the ventilator in relation tothe width of the throat opening without sacrificing Ventilating eciency,weatherproofness, cost, or the ratio of net to gross area of opening. Myinvention not only solves this problem but enhances the aerodynamicefficiency and weatherproofness of the ventilator, reduces weight andcost of manufacture, installation and upkeep, facilitates splicingmultiple units, gives better access for painting and cleaning, improvesdrainage and minimizes the tendency of debris to accumulate to impairdrainage or other desirable functions of the ventilator.

The objects of my invention include the solution of the problems and theprocurement of the advantages stated above.

It is thus an object of my invention to reduce the height of theventilator in respect to the throat opening and increase the aerodynamicefhciency as, for example, by permitting air moving through theventilator to make fewer and less abrupt turns and have a freer path ofilow without loss of weatherproofness. lt is a further object of theinvention to provide a gravity roof ventilator in which virtually all ofthe top area of the ventilator and particularly those portions overlyingthe bottom gutters are open to workmen servicing the ventilator, therebypermitting them to use brooms and like means to remove leaves,nests,insects, dead birds and other debris. It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a gravity roof ventilator which can be builtand maintained with a minimum of material, weight, labor and cost.

Another object is to increase the exhaust area of the ventilator withreduction in height and increased freedom of air movement and enhancedweatherproofness. Another object is to provide an improved curb flashingand supporting structure and relationship between the curb and theventilator body, and to facilitate splicing multiple units with respectto the curb flashing and supporting structure. Another object is toimprove the structure and operation of the ventilator dampers andoperating mechanism in themselves and in relation to the wholeventilator.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide a gravity roofventilator provided with end caps of novel design. Preferably such endcaps are of bulged shape and constructed in two parts. One of these is astationary upper part and the other is a movable lower part that is`held in place by quick detachable means in a manner permitting readyaccess to the interior end wall structure. ln a gravity roof ventilatorof reduced height of the kind to which the invention relates, the use ofsuch end caps, particularly if the curb forming part of the supportingstructure is located interiorly of the end and sidewall structure of theventilator, not only provides easy access 2,734,660 Patented Mar. l2,1957 to the interior but greatly facilitates the discharge of rain waterat the ends of the ventilator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription which follows and from the accompanying drawings.

`In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a gravity roof ventilator of themultiple type incorporating features and principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation on a reduced scale of the near end of theventilator of Figure l as it appears after removal of the end cap,certain parts such as the means for moving the damper actuating barbeing omitted in the interest of clarity.

Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of the center portion of Figure 2,the splash shield being omitted to show details of construction.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a pair of panel braces of Figure3 with their attaching and reinforcing ilanges in their working relationto each other but without other elements such as gutters, deflectingmeans, etc.

Figure 5 is a simplied view partly in elevation and partly in sectioncorresponding in a general way to the center portion of Figure 2, but ona larger scale and without background details.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the near end ofthe ventilator of Figure l in the plane of a damperaxis and the line6--6 of Figure 2, certain parts such as the damper and the damperactuating link being` omitted.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective showing `the apron construction toreceive the lower troughs, and

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the relation of apron, lower trough,main braces and partition.

As shown by way of illustration in Figure 1 of the drawings, theventilator is adapted to be positioned and mounted on suitablesupporting structure, the same comprising a iat roof 1 and a rectangularcurb 2 extending upward from the plane of roof l. Not appearing inFigure l but indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 and more clearlyshown in Figure 6 is a rectangular opening 3 defined by the curb 2 inthe roof structure supporting the ventilator. The ventilator of Figure lis illustrative of a three-element multiple unit in which, inpracticable commercial form, the throat of each element at the damper isabout a foot wide and the Ventilator has correlated gross externaldimensions of approximately seven feet six inches in width from side toside across the near end, i. e., transverse the throats, approximatelyten feet in length from the near corner to the far corner along theright-hand side of the ventilator as seen in Figure 1, and approximatelytwo feet in height from the top of curb 2 to the top of the ventilator.The roof opening 3 measures approximately 70 by 94. Figure 1 is brokento foreshorten the length of the ventilator as viewed. A six-elementmultiple unit would be approximately fteen feet wide and otherwise ofthe same dimensions as the three-element unit, covering a correspondingroof opening of greater widthf For consistent terminology the termslength and width are conveniently preserved in the reference todimensions taken respectively in the direction of the long dimension, i.e., length, of the damper controlled throat opening of a single elementand the width of the throat, albeit as the multiple of elements of thesame length in a single ventilator increases the widt of the wholeintegrated ventilator may much exceed the length thereof. Similarly Ishall refer to the interior and exterior vertical walls or partitions ofthe elements, units and ventilators which extend parallel to the longdimensions of the throat openings as side walls and/or partitions andrefer to the exterior walls that lie transversely of the long dimensionsof the throats as end 3 walls.- Effciency andV convenience ofmanufacture, handling and erection are well served when the primary unitof the ventilator comprises three elements whether ernployed alone as-acomplete ventilator as shown in Fig. 1 with two internal partition walls6 and 'i' and external side walls and 8, Fig. 2, or made with one orboth side walls or members corresponding to the partitions 6 and 7 forintegration with similar or complementary units to form a wholeventilator of great width between but two external side walls 5 and 8per se.

Surrounding curb 2 on all four sides thereof is a vertically disposedapron 4, the bottom of which terminates at its lower edge a few inchesabove the plane of roof 1, Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6. The apron d is mountedon but spaced (at least for tolerance) somewhat from curb 2 in themanner best'shown in Figures 2 and 6, and is carried on the curb byangle irons 4a and secured to and/or spaced more or less from theexterior vertical face of the curb by studs or lag screws 4b and spacers4c. Along the sides of the ventilator the apron4 takes the form of ashallow rectangle with its upper edge underlying and supporting thehalftroughs 16 and 17, Fig. 2, where, if desired, water may be spilledexternally of the apron andv between the apron and the spaced lowerparts of the adjacent side walls 5 and S. At each of the near and farends ofthe ventilator unit the upper portion of apron 4 is characterizedby generally trapezoidal upward extensions 11, 12 and 13, more fullydescribed hereinafter, between and upon the sloping upper edges andflanges of whichthe lower troughs and half-troughs, 14-17 and mainbraces 31' and 32 are supported directly and substantially all of theventilator structure supported indirectly. Apron 4- thus serves as afoundation and frame to support the ventilator as a whole, being itselfsupported by and secured to curb 2, and is appropriately made ofrelatively heavy gauge stock for this reason.

In the preferred form and embodiment of my invention shown in thedrawings, there are four side walls in all, respectively designated 5,6, 7 and 8. In a sense, intermediate side walls 6 and 7 may be regardedas partitions;

however, as seen in Figure 2 they serve as the side walls.V

for the ventilator element occupying the middle portion ofthethree-element unit. The end wall structure of the ventilator, shown tobetter advantage elsewhere in the drawings,ris obscured in Figure 1 byend cap 9, of which there is one at each end of the ventilator. Thus themultiple ventilator unit shown in the drawings includes supportingstructure having three throat openings therein,-

s'idewall'structure forming three elements with substantially separatethroats or Ventilating channels overthe opening 3 in the supportingstructure, end wall structure cooperating with the side wall structureat the opposite ends ofthe three Ventilating channels, and an end capateach end of the ventilator. Roof 1 and curb 2 are of VtheY type ofmaterial conventionally employed for such pur-V posesgri. e., wood,concrete or the like. Thefsheet'and sheet-like parts-of the ventilatorincluding the apron, the

side wall structure, the end wall structure and the end= caps arepreferably made of galvanized sheet metal ofl appropriately differentgauges.

It ,has been noted above that at the near and far ends of the ventilatorthe upper portion of apron 4 surrounding eurbZ has three generallytrapezoidal extensions, designated 1,1,v 12and13, Figures 2, 5 and 7.Such trapezoidal extentions are preferably formed integrally with themain portion of apron 4, which is preferably of unitary constructionfrom one side of the ventilator to the other.

Collectively, trapezoidal extensions 11, 12 and 13 at the opposite endofthe ventilator form the means for supporting, two louver troughs orbottom gutters designated 14,:and I Swhich underlie intermediate sidewailsorpartitions 6 and 7 in the manner shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5. A sappears from Figure 5, there is considerable clearance between thebottoms of walls 6 and 7 and bottoms of the 4 troughs 14 and 15. wholedrainage capacity of each trough when water is largely entering it fromonly one side of the partition. This also promotes cleanliness,facilitates painting and eliminates the tendency of the parts to rust ordebris to cellect were they secured at the bottom of the trough. Withparticular reference to Figure 5, it will be noted that bottom gutters14 and 15 may be considered as consisting of left-hand trough halves 14aand 15a andrighthand trough halves 14b and 15b.

Bottom gutters 14 and 15 extend longitudinally of the ventilator fromone end thereof to the other, breinglipped over at L and supported bythe trapezoidal extensions on apron 4 and flanges, see Figs. 6, 7 and8,. As indicated also in Figures 2, 3 and 5, each trough half of each ofthe bottom gutters has a vertically extending and inturned flange alongits upper edge as at 14e and 15e. As shown in Figure 3, these flangesnot only define the throat of the Ventilating channel but also stiftenand strengthen the troughs and half troughs and serve as the means forseating the dampers when the latter are in closed position.

The portion of the ventilator shown in section in Figure Sl is themiddle element of the three parallel Ventilating channels which theprimary unit comprises. Trough halves 14b and 15a, together with thedamper, collectively constitute fixed and movable means spanning thechannel from one side to the other at the base of the side wall orpartition structure. To the left of the Ventilating channel shown inFigure 5 is a similar Ventilating channel; to` the right, a thirdVentilating channel constituting a mirrorv image of the one on theleft-hand side. The relationship between them is apparent from Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 2, the left-hand Ventilating channel or element ischaracterized by a trough half 16 supported by the left hand end oftrapezoidal extension 11 of apron 4, such trough half 16 correspondinggenerally to trough half 14b of bottom gutter 14 but terminating at ornear the base of the side wall and overlying apron 4. Similarly, theVentilating channel on the right-hand side of the ventilator has atrough half 17 supported by trapezoidal extension 13. Trough half 17corresponds in a general way to trough half 15a of bottom gutter 15,but, like trough half 16, terminates at or near the base of the slantand adjacent side wall and overlaps the apron 4. It is not without myteaching to make the trough halves 16 and 17 integrall with or joined inintegrated extension of the adjacent part of the apron 4. Trough halves16 and 17- may be spaced, as shown at the left in Figure 2, as from sidewalls 5 to facilitate the discharge of rain water along the sides of theventilator, or in the alternative, as shown at the right ofFigure 2, maybe carried outwardly and flanged downwardly and joined asto the sidewall 8 to discharge essentially at the end of side wall 8 of theventilator. Trough halves 16 and 17 are provided with fanged seatingportions 16C and 17e for'the dampers and, where they overlap thetrapezoidal extensions 11 and 13 of apron 4, have overhanging anddownwardly project ing lips Lvsimilar to those on bottom gutters 14 and15, see Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The middle bottom portions ofthegutters 14 and1S and the equivalent portionstof the half f of pivoted rod 19 on whichit is mounted, anged side.

portion 18a of the damper seats upon seating portion 14e of trough half14b of bottom gutter 14; at the sameV time, flanged side portion 18bthereof seats upon, i. e.

This facilitates employmentv ofthe.

The manner in which the dampers` As indicated` iu4 nested underlap of,seating portion 15e of trough half 15a of bottom gutter 15. Therelationship of these parts when the dampers are in the fully closedposition is shown in Figure 3. Preferably dampers 18 have a narrowcentral integral raised channel 18e overlying the axis 19 wherewith todispose the main sheet of the damper in the plane of the axis and togive torsional stiffness to the damper. The channel 18e and the flanges18a and 18h together strengthen the damper and give it longitudinal aswell as torsional rigidity assuring its proper movement and uniformlight and weather sealing action with the coacting flanges of theadjacent troughs.

Referring again to Figure 5, damper 18 is of the butter fly type, beingpivoted for rotary movement through an arc of about 90. Connected todamper rod 19 are two links 20 and 21, of which the latter is coupled toan actuating bar 22. Inasmuch as the illustrated ventilator unit hasthree Ventilating channels in parallel, there are three dampers 18. Allare preferably actuated from the same actuating bar 22 in the mannerindicated in Figure 2. Actuating bar 22 is supported from apron 4 by aplurality of steady brackets 23, Figs. and 6, carrying small rollers23a, Fig. 6, uponwhich the bar 22 is freely slidable.

Rigidly fastened to actuating bar 22 is a traveling nut 24 which coactswith the threaded shaft 25 shown in Figure 5. Threaded shaft 25 carriesat its left-hand end a gear 26 which mates with a like gear 27 suitablycoupled to a pulley, motor or the like. `The, latter is indicated by thecircle 28 shown in dotted lines at the left-hand end of Figure 5. Whengears 26 and 27 and threaded shaft 25 are rotated by pulley or motor 23,traveling nut 24 moves axially of threaded shaft 25, thereby movingactuating bar 22 and links 20 and 21 to open or close all three dampers18. A single control, therefore, suffices to move all three, or anyother multiple of, dampers 18 to the same extent, permitting all of themto be opened or closed simultaneously.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 8, at each end of the ventilatorthe end structure includes, for each Ventilating channel or element, apair of end panels, sometimes also called main braces, designated 31 and32. Panels or braces 31 and `32 are mirror images of each other, seeFigure 4, wherein they are shown as removed from the other parts of theventilator but in their Working relation to each other. Each brace orpanel has a plurality of integrally turned stiffening and attachingflanges 80, S1, 82, 83 and 84 all of which contribute to the strengthand stiffness of the panel and all the anges except 32 beingappropriately apertured to facilitate attachment between the panels andother parts of the Ventilator as with bolts and nuts or sheet metalscrews, for example; the flanges 80 being secured to and supporting sidewalls and partitions 5, 6, 7 and 8, Figs. 2, 3 and 8, the flanges 81being secured to and resting upon ends of the lower troughs and thesupporting ilanges F of the apron d, Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and flanges S3and 84 carrying and/or affording attachment with top gutters 33 andridge baflies 36 and 37 as will appear more fully below.

- Referring now to Figures 3, 7 and 8, the apron 4 on the upper portionsof each of the inclined edges of the trapezoidal portions 11, 12 and 13has an integrally formed outwardly turned apertured flange F`complementariiy juxtaposed to and for supporting attachment with theflanges 31 of the braces 31 and 32; the lower troughs resting on thenotches in and flanges F of the` apron and the braces in turn resting onthe troughs directly above the flanges. Appropriate bolts, not shown,passing through aligned apertures in the troughs and anges with nuts,not shown, for securing the parts together, Figs. 2 and 8. The `lowerhorizontal edges of the braces 31 and 32 are spaced above the lowerportions of the troughs and half troughs 14--17 to permit the freeoverflow of rain or otheretfluent from the troughs and half troughsoutwardly over and beyond the apron 4 and to spill over and away fromthe apron and away from the damper operating linkage, see also Figure 6.The pairs of braces overlying the full troughs 14 and 15 engage thepartitions 6 `and 7 between their flanges Si) and are secured to eachother and to the partitions through aligned apertures and bolts and nutsor equivalent attaching means; the several parts coacting advantageouslyto give a strong and stiff structure.

While it is not shown in the drawings I prefer to provide and securebraces 31 and 32, not only at the ends of the ventilator and troughs,gutters, bafes, partitions and walls thereof but also in the mid-portionor midlength thereof and secure the same in the same way and in the samerelation to the associated parts except the apron which, per se, doesnot traverse the mid-length of the ventilator. The braces in themid-portion of the ventilator are carried by the troughs, gutters, wall,partitions and bailes to which they are attached and secured and serveto strengthen and stiifen the whole structure and also functionaerodynamically as transverse baies tending to reduce eddying andcross-currents of air in the ventilator.

Extending from end to end of the ventilator above the throat and damperof each element, see Figs. 2, 3 and 5, are upper gutters or troughs 33carried by the braces 31 and 32 and particularly the flanges 83 thereofto which they are secured. Each gutter 33 has two laterally extendingdownwardly inclined flanges 34 and 35 provided with vertical lips 34aand 35a, Figure 5, such flanges overlying marginal flanged portions 14C,15C, 16e i and 17e of the bottom gutters. Preferably anges 34 and 35make an angle of about 30 to the horizontal, respectively parallelingthe slope of the subjacent bottom gutters; both upper and lower troughsor gutters having their main parts sloping at an angle of about 30 tothe horizontal. The ends of all three center gutters 33 are lipped as atL', Figures 3 and 6 and extend outwardly beyond the braces 31 and 32 andthe lipped ends of the top gutters 33 immediately overlie splash plates44, Figs. 2 and 6, to spill water outwardly beyond and away from thethroats and dampers.

Gutters 33 carry off rain water, which they receive directly anddischarge at the two opposite ends of the ventilator. In one sense theymay be considered as deck structure overlying the throats and dampers 18of each element and diverting rain, sleet, snow, etc. therefrom. It willbe noted that the central bottom portions of center gutters 33 arepreferably flattened to conserve height and are disposedv closelyadjacent the edge portions 18a of dampers 18 when the latter are invertical position; this being indicated by the locus defined by theupper of the two dotted arrows in Figure 5. In terms of the height ofthe element and unit the bottom of the gutter 33 is locatedapproximately half the damper width above the axis 19, i. e. about halfthe throat width (plus the overlap of the damper) above the throat. Theextreme side edges of the gutter 33 being somewhat higher than thebottom middle thereof, the outlet air passages between the upper angesof the lower troughs and the lower edges of the vertical lips 34a and35a of the upper trough are preferably a little greater than half thewidth of the throat and facilitate the free flow of air and gasestherebetween. The flat bottoms of the gutters taken with the shallow(preferably 30) slope of the sloping sides and the flatness of thereversed slope of the flanges 34 and 35 all collectively contribute toreducing the height of the ventilator. As will presently appear theremaining upward and outward passage for air and gases as they iiowaround and above the edges of the side flanges of the troughs 33 becomevery much larger than half the throat opening and greatly facilitate airand gas movement in a novel and advantageous way; the extreme edges ofthe gutters 33 being spaced from the walls and partitions 5, 6, '7 and 8not lest-and. metan samenhang@ dan Ahalf. thewidut plete the end wallstructure. Each such splash shield is` mounted outwardly of andsecuredtobraces 31 and 32 in the position indicateddinFigure 2 andpreferably secured thereto kby bolts `andwnuts not shown.. Each splashplate hasits upper edge underlying the lipped end of a gutter 33 andeachy splash plate closes the opening O, Fig.4 3, defined' by thejuxtaposed end plates 31 and 32.above the throat and damper andbelowtheV top gutter, and each splash plate overlaps the upper. innerportions ofV the lower troughs andA half troughs andA o verliesthe endof each adjacent darnperl and is spaced frornmthe proximate end of theadjacenth damper. shaft 19 and terminates in a straight horizontal lower.edge below the straight adjacent upper. edges of the apron 4, thedamper axis and the Ythroat whereby to exclude the spill from gutter 33from the throat and damper and the damper rod and bearing B therefor inthe apron. The openings O between the braces 31 and 32 are at least attheir upper parts as wide as the gutters 33` to admit longitudinalinsertion or re- Inoval ofthe gutters therethrough `when the splashplates are not attached; the ,gutters preferably being secured to andunder the flanges 83 ofthe braces by bolts and n uts or equivalents.When the gutters 33 and splash plates are joined and secured to thebraces 31 and 32 continuous loadkbearing end walls for the ventilatorare completed and a continuous interconnected mutually bracing andsupporting strong and stiff structure is afforded from and with theapron, braces, Wall partitions and gutters or troughs.

Flanking each gutter 33 from end to end thereof and in part rising aboveand overlying the flanges 34 and 35 of the gutters are laterally opposedand downwardly and outwardly directed deecting panel means 36 and 37hereinafter sometimes called ridge battles. As best appears in Fig. 5,inthe preferred form of my invention these ridge battles are moreor lessgambrelled in shape, each comprising an upper vertical portion 38 or 39,an intermediate slant portion 4t) or 41, and a lower vertical portion 42or 43, as the case may be. Slant portions 4t) and 41 respectively, li esubstantially parallel to directing anges 34 and 35 of gutters 33 andare spaced upwardly and outwardly therefrom;v the slants 4t) and 41being considerably longer than the directing flanges 34 and 35, therebyfacilitating the disposition of the upper vertical portions 38 and 39ofthe ridge battles vertically above and in overlapping relation to theflanges `34 and 35 and the lower vertical portions 42Vand 43 aboutvmidway between the lateral edges of the flanges 34 and 3S and thevertical walls and partitions 5, 6, 7 and 3. Ridge batlies 36 and 37rest upon and are supported by andattached to the flanges S4. of thepanels or braces 31 and 32 respectively, preferably through properlyaligned apertures and attaching means and the ridge battles preferablyoverlie slightly the end panels Y31 and `3.2 at the flanges 84, thepanels being notched at 31a'and 32a to accommodate the lower verticalportions@ and 43 when the parts are assembled and secured together'. Itwill also be noted that the lower ends of the ridge baftles 36 and 37-terminate well below the level of the uppermost portions of centergutter 33, and, more. importantly, below the straight broken lines rdrawn from the upper edges of the partitions 6 and' to the upper edgesof the lianges 14e and 15e at the throat Wherewith to'intercept anddeflect driving rain from entering the throat opening. The lowermostedges of gambrel baes 36 and 37 may depend somewhat lower thanillustratedin Fig. without impairing the aerodynamics of my ventilatorIand with corresponding increased weatherproof- 8 nessi. o l prefer `thedepth and disposition shown formost purposes sinceit affordsweatherproofness and'aerody-y namic eiciency with the use ofamodestamount of material.

As further appears from Figures Zand 5, the upper portion of eachVentilating element may be considered as` being divided into an outerpassage A adjacent side Wall 6,l

an outer passage B'adjacent side wall 7 and a wide center passage Cbetween the-ridge baffles 36 and 37. Passages A and Bare of maximumwidth at the top of the ventilator, of progressively decreasing width inthe vicinity of slants 40and41, andof minimum width near the lowerportions 42 and 43 of gambrels 36 and 37. Passage C is of minimumwidthebetween upper vertical portions 38 and 39,V ofY greater widthbetween slants 40 and A41, and-of maximum width between lower verticalportions 42y-andl 43. Abi-east the directing tlanges 34 and 35 of gutter33;y

pass-age C may be considered as branching into two like passages D and'Eof about the same width as the lower end of passages A and B. Thecombined areas of the lower end of passage A and passage D and the lowerendof passage Band passage E being, as mentioned above,-of f no lessarea than the area of the throat opening.

With the dampers in open, i. e. Vertical, position upwardly moving airand gases have a novel easy path` of ow from the throat to and out ofthe top of the ventilator; theV path in its rightward and leftward, asviewed in Fig. 5, outer portions inclining upwardly and outwardly onsmooth gentle curves to proximity with the vertical walls or partitionsand then continuing vertically withl increasing area in the passages Aand B. The inner portions of the path of outflowing gases while probablyfollowing compound curves from adjacent the damper through D and into Chave the desirable characteristics of much verticalness in relation tohorizontalness and increasing area from the throat to the ultimateoutlet at C. It may also be appreciated that prior practice hasgenerally contned the ultimate outlet to the size and dispositionvdynamic qualities have been companion to a decrease -r in overall heightof the ventilator as evidenced by theY vertical proximity between theslants 40 and 41 of the ridge battles and the flanges 34 and 35 of thetop gutters, whichproximity is obtained because the passagetherebetween,v need yaccommodate but approximately half the outilowinggases, whereas prior practice required passages in this placeV toyaccommodate all the outowing gases.

This advantage has been such that my invention gives both a reducedheight of the whole ventilator and significant vertical lengths 38 and39 of the ridge baies.

By relating and proportioning the parts in substantially the mannershown, wind-swept rain coming as if from the upper left-hand or upperright-hand corner of any Ventilating element as viewed in Figure 5 willbe dellected by the baflles or gambrels 36 and 37 and taken by gutter 33without getting an opportunity to enter the throat. Having been deectedby gambrels 36 and 37 and/or gutters 33, as the case may be, wind-sweptrain entering the ventilator will be caught and carried away by the topgutters and bottom gutters and half gutters. Rain falling vertically issimilarly caught and discharged without opportunity to enter the throatsof the Ventilating elements or units.

My ventilator also comprises end cap or closure con* structions 9 ateach end thereof, Figures 1 and 6,'carried by end braces 31 and 32 andspaced from and enclosing, inter alia, the open ends of the gutters andhalf gutters. As shown in Figures 2, 3 'and 6 there is an upper seriesof aves-,eso

mounting brackets 45 and a lower series of mounting brackets 46, each ofsuch mounting brackets being more or less U-shaped with their iiangedfeet secured to the panels 31 and 32 and the base parts of the Uaffording supporting attachment for upper and lower portionsrespectively of the caps 9. It will be observed that mounting brackets45 are somewhat shallower than mounting brackets 46 to facilitate thesomewhat greater spacing of the lower portions of the caps from the endpanels and inner end wall structure.

As appears from Figures l and 6 of the drawings, end cap 9 at the nearend of the ventilator as seen in Figure l comprises two principal upperand lower parts, 9a and 9b respectively. The upper part 9a includes avertically extending portion 50 dispos-ed closely adjacent the upperpart of the end wall structure of the ventilator with an inwardlyextending horizontal flange 51 overlying the ends of the upper edges ofthe walls, partitions and ridge bafes. Below portion 50 part 9a has anoutwardly directed slant S2 which osets the lower vertical portion 53 ofthe upper half of the end cap 9 to an extent sutiicient to permitsubstantially unobstructed discharge of rain water from top gutters 33.At its bottom, lower vertically extending portion 53 is provided with anupwardly turned open lip 54, best seen in Figure 6. The upper half 9a ofend cap 9 is held in place on the ventilator by means of brackets 45, towhich it is affixed by convenient means such as nuts and bolts.

Cooperating with the upper half of end cap 9 is the detachable lowerhalf 9b provided at its upper edge with a complementary but downwardlyextending open lip 55. By means of lips 54 and 55 the detachable lowerhalf of end cap 9 can be hooked onto the stationary upper half of endcap 9. Below lip 55 the detachable lower half of end cap 9 has avertically extending portion 56 which terminates in an inward slant 57that begins abreast the bottom gutters and half gutters and is directedtoward but terminates spaced from apron 4, Figure 6. Slant 57 carries atits bottom a second vertically extending portion 58 which terminatespreferably below the top of curb 2 outwardly of apron 4. The detachablelower half of end cap 9 is held in place on supporting brackets 46 byquickdetachable means such as bolts and wing nuts 59 and therefore isreadily removable from the upper half and from the ventilator as awhole. As shown in Figure 1, side pieces 60 and 61, respectively, closethe side ends of the end caps.

`The quick detachability` of the lower portions 9b of the end caps 9facilitates cleaning, adjustment, inspection and repair especially ofthe lower and moving and actuating parts of the ventilator. With littleextra trouble the upper half 9a may also be removed` for less usualinspections, painting and/or repair of the parts adjacent to it. The endcaps when positioned enhance the appearance of the ventilator, close theends ofthe ventilator aerodynamically, contain and direct the outflow ofwater and discharge from the gutters and prevent the ingress ofundesirable material and elements into the ends of the ventilator. i Theforegoing description has been largely confined to my preferred form ofa ventilator unit comprising three Ventilating elements, eachcharacterized by one throat and damper, and it will be appreciated thatthe units and elements may be multiplied to any desired extentessentially by substituting a partition 6 or 7 for one of the end wallsor 8, repeating the structure of panels, braces, gutters and bailles andextending or splicing the apron, Icaps and linkages in known andpracticable ways, all this while retaining and correspondinglymultiplying the advantages and benefits of the principle of myinvention. While l have illustrated and described a preferred form of myinvention, changes, modifications and improvements will occur to thoseskilled in the art who come to understand my teaching and enjoy theadvantages of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited inthe scope of my patent to the form of my invention herein specificallydisclosed to illustrate and exemplify the same nor in any mannerinconsistent with the promotion of progress in the art marked by myinvention.

I claim: l

1. In a gravity roof ventilator for a roof opening defined by anupstanding curb, a vertical apron surround-5 ing the exterior of saidcurb and extending vertically from below the top of the curb to a levelabove the top of the curb, brackets resting on the top of the curbcarrying said apron, said apron having notches in its upper edge andflanges turned normal to the apron at said notches, drain trough membersdisposed in said notches and spanning said roof opening and extendingbeyond said apron, vertical braces rising from said trough members abovesaid apron and, with said trough members, secured to the said flanges ofthe apron, dampers having axes journalled in said apron between saidtrough members, gutters disposed above said dampers and carried by saidbraces and extending at their ends outwardly away from said roof openingbeyond said braces and apron, vertically rising baffles standing abovesaid trough members and between said gutters and carried by said braces,gambrelled bafes carried by said braces and extending between saidvertical battles and said gutters and overlapping the edges of saidgutters, splash plates carried by said braces with the upper edgestraversing and underlying the said ends of said gutters and their loweredges overlying the ends of said trough members `and spaced from theends of said dampers and spaced from said apron, damper actuatingmechanism disposed between the planes of said apron and said splashplates, brackets carried by said braces extending outwardly beyond theends' of the trough members and gutters, and caps carried by saidbrackets and spaced from and overlying the ends of said gutters andtrough members and having inturned flanges overlying the upper edges ofsaid bafiies.

2. In a gravity roof ventilator for a roof opening defined by anupstanding curb, a vertical apron surrounding the exterior of said curband extending vertically from below Ithe top of the curb to a levelabove the top of the curb, brackets resting on the top of the curbcarrying said apron, said apron having notches in its upper edge andanges turned normal to the apron at said notches, drain trough membersspaced apart and disposed in said notches and spanning said roof openingandhaving upper side edges defining throats therebetween and extendingbeyond said apron, vertical braces rising from said trough members abovesaid apron and, with said trough members, secured to the said flanges 0fthe apron, gutters having upwardly and outwardly inclined sides and sideedges and being disposed above said throats with the respective edges ofsaid gutters vertically spaced from land overlapping the respectiveadjacent edges of said trough members and carried by said braces andextending at their ends outwardly away from said roof opening beyondsaid braces and apron, vertically rising baffles standing above saidtrough members and between said adjacent gutters and exteriorly of theoutermost gutters and carried by said braces, gambrelled baflies carriedby said braces and extending between said vertical baflles and saidgutters and overlapping the edges of said gutters, splash plates carriedby said braces with the upper edges traversing and underlying the saidends of said gutters and their lower edges overlapping the ends of saidtrough members and spaced from the ends of said throats and spaced fromsaid apron, brackets carried by said braces extending outwardly beyondthe ends of the trough members and gutters, and caps carried by saidbrackets and spaced from and overlying the ends of said gutters andtrough members and having inturned fianges overlying the upper edges ofsaid baliles.

3. In a gravity roof ventilator for a roof opening defined by anupstanding curb, a vertical apron surrounding the exterior of said curband extending vertically from belowithetop of the curbto a level'above.the top of the curb,`brackets resting on the top of the curbcarryingsaid apron, said apron having notches in its upper edge and flangesturned normal to the apron at said notches, drain trough membersdisposed in said notches and spanning said roof opening and extendingbeyond said apron and having upper side edges, vertical braces risingfrom said trough members above said apron and, with said trough members,secured to the said iianges of the apron, dampers having axes journalledin said apron between said trough members, gutters having upwardly andoutwardly inclined sides and side edges and being disposed above saiddampers with` the vrespective edges of said gutters vertically spacedfrom and overlapping the respective adjacent edges of said troughmembers and carried by said braces and extending at their ends outwardlyaway from said roof opening beyond said braces and apron, verticallyrising battles standing above said trough members and between saidadjacent gutters and exteriorly of the outermost gutters and carried bysaid braces, gambrelled baies carried by said braces and extendingbetween said vertical bales and said gutters and overlapping the edgesof said gutters, splash plates carried by said braces with the upperedges traversing and underlying the said ends of said gutters and theirlower edges overlapping the ends of said trough members 'and spaced fromthe ends of said dampers and spaced from said apron, and damperactuating mechani'sm disposed between the planes of said apron and saidsplash plates.

4. In a gravity roof ventilator for a roof opening detined by anupstanding curb, a vertical apron surrounding the exterior of said curband extending vertically from below the top of the curb to a level abovethe top of the curb, brackets resting on the top of the curb carryingsaid apron, said apron having notches in its upper edge and flangesturned normal to the apron at said notches, drain trough members spacedapart and disposed in said notches and spanning said roof opening anddefining throats therebetween and extending beyond said apron, verticalbraces rising from said trough members above said apron and, with saidtrough members, secured vto the said anges of the apron, gutters havingupwardly and outwardly inclined sides disposed above said throats andcarried by said braces and extending at their ends outwardly away fromsaid roof opening beyond said braces and apron, vertically rising bafesstanding above said trough members and between said adjacent gutters andexteriorly of the outermost gutters and carried by saidv braces,lgambrelled baiiies carried by said braces and extending between saidvertical bales and saidgutters androverlapping the edges of saidgutters, andsplash plates carried by said braces with the upper edgestraversing and underlying the said ends of said gutters and -their loweredges overlapping the ends of saidv trough members and spaced from theends of said throats and spaced from said apron.

5. In a gravity roof ventilator for a roof opening, au apronvsurrounding said roof opening and having spaced notches in its upperedge and iianges turned normal to the apron at said notches, draintrough members disposed in said notches and spanning said roof openingand der .tining throats therebetween and extending beyond said apron,vertical braces rising from said trough members above said apron and,with said trough members, secured to the said anges of the apron,gutters having upwardly and outwardly inclined sides disposed above saidthroats and carried by said braces and extending at their ends outwardlyaway from said roof opening beyond said braces and apron, verticallyrising balles standingvabove said trough members and between saidadjacent gutters and exteriorly of the outermost guttersl and carried bysaid braces, gambrelled baffles carriedk by said'braces and extendingbetween said vertical bajiies and saidl gutters and overlapping/theedges of said gutters, and splash ansehen 12 plates carried by `saidbraceswith the upper edges/tra-l versing and underlying the said endsgofsaid guttersan'd theirlower edges overlapping the ends of Ysaid troughmembers.

6. In a gravity roof ventilator for a roof opening, lan apron adapted tosurround the said roof opening `and having spaced notches in its upperedge, spaced drain trough members disposed in said notches and definingthroats therebetween and extending beyond said apron, vertical bracesrising from saidtrough members above said apron, gutters having upwardlyand outwardly inclined sides disposed above `said throats and carriedbysaid braces and extending at their ends outwardly beyond said braces andapron, vertically rising battles standing above said trough members andbetween said adjacent gutters and exteriorly of the outermost guttersand carried by said braces, gambrelled baflies carried by said bracesand extending between said vertical baies and said gutters andoverlapping the edges of said gutters, and splash plates carried by saidbraces with the upper edges traversing and underlying the said ends ofsaid gutters and their lower edges overlapping the ends of said troughmembers and spaced from the ends of `said throats and spaced from saidapron.

7. In a gravity roof ventilator for a roof opening an apron adapted tosurround said roof opening and having spaced notches in its upper edge,spaced drain trough members disposed in said notches and spanning saidroof opening and having upper side edges defining throats therebetween,vertical braces rising Vfrom said trough members above said apron,gutters having upwardly and outwardly inclined sides and side edges andbeing disposed above said throats with the respective edges of saidgutters vertically spaced from and overlapping the respective adjacentedges of said trough members and carried by said braces and extending attheir ends outwardly away from said roof opening beyond said braces andapron, vertically rising baffles standing above said trough members Vandbetween said adjacent gutters and exteriorly of the outermost guttersand carried by said braces, and splash plates carried by said braceswith the upper edges traversing and underlying the said ends `of saidgutters and their lower edges overlapping the ends of said` throats.

8. In a gravity roof ventilator for a roof opening `an apron adapted tosurround said roof openingy andl having spaced notches inv its upperedge at oppositev sides of said opening, spaced drain trough membersdisposed in said notches andv spanning said lroof opening and extendingbeyond said apron and having edges 'dening throats therebetween,vertical braces rising from said trough members above said apron,gutters having `upwardly and outwardly inclined sides and side edges andbeing 'disposed above said throats with the respective edges ofsaidgutters `vertically spaced from and overlapping the respective adjacentedges of said trough members and carried by said braces and extending attheir ends outwardly away from said roof opening beyond said bracesA andapron, vertically rising baies standing above, said trough members `andbetween said adjacent gutters and exteriorly of the outermost guttersand `carried by said braces, splash plates carried by said braces withthe `upper edges traversing and underlying the said endsof said guttersand their lower edges overlapping the ends of said trough members andspaced from the ends of said throats, brackets carried by said bracesextending outwardly beyond the ends of the trough Ymembers andguttersand caps carried by said brackets and spaced from and overlyingthe ends of said gutters and/trough members.

9. A roof ventilator comprising a plurality of parallel substantiallyhorizontal lower gutter elements spaced apart and dening a Ventilating-throatopening'there between, an upper gutter overlying ,said throat`opening andin part overlapping said lower gutter 4`elements and beingspaced thereabove and dening outlet passages of not more net restrictionthan said throat openings, vertical batlies disposed above said lowergutter elements and rising from below the throat opening and deiiningoutlet passages beside said upper gutter no smaller than said throatopening, auxiliary bafes rising from between said upper gutter and saidvertical baies to points overlying the edges of said upper gutters andspaced therefrom, means for closing the ends of the throat opening,means for diverting liquid from said upper gutter from the throatopening and means for supporting the gutter, gutter elements and bafflesin xed spacial relation.

10. A gravity roof ventilator comprising supporting structure adapted tobe mounted on a roof over a roof opening, laterally opposed drainagemembers on the lower portion of the structure having outwardly anddownwardly sloping surfaces and opposed edges defining a central throatopening for the upward passage of air and gases, vertically extendingsubstantially straight side walls laterally spaced from and rising frombelow the plane of said throat opening, the upper ends of said sidewalls defining the width of the exhaust opening of said ventilator,means carried by said structure and carrying said side walls, alongitudinally extending gutter member disposed centrally of said throatopening intermediate said exhaust and throat openings, the verticalspacing between said gutter member and said throat opening and thelateral spacing between the side walls and the lateral edges of saidgutter member each providing passage for said air and gases of no lessarea than said throat, said means supporting said gutter, laterallyspaced vertically extending baffles supported on said means and risingsubstantially from the horizontal plane of the lateral edges of thegutter member and from between and being spaced from the adjacent sidewall and edge of the gutter member and intersecting a straight linebetween the top of the side wall and the edge of the gutter member, saidbattles being adapted to prevent the elements from passing over saidside walls and through said vertical spacing between said gutter memberand said throat opening, and end wall means carried by said means andextending transversely of said gutter member at the ends thereof andprotecting the ends of said throat opening from the elements.

11. A roof ventilator comprising, in combination, a plurality ofparallel lower trough members having upper side edges approximately in ahorizontal plane and spaced apart and defining throat openingstherebetween, a plurality of parallel upper trough members havinggreater width than said throat openings and spaced apart and eachoverlying a throat opening and vertically spaced thereabove a distanceno less than half the width of said throat openings, batiie membersextending parallel to said trough members above said lower troughmembers and between said upper trough members, means supporting saidmembers in spaced relation to each other, means for draining water fromsaid troughs, and means for closing the ends of said throat openings andfor preventing water from entering the ends of the throat openings.

12. The ventilator of claim 11 in which certain of said baffle membersextend below said throat openings and others of said baiile membersoverlie the side edges of said upper trough members.

13. A roof ventilator comprising a plurality of parallel, longitudinallyextending, substantially horizontal lower trough members having upperside edges approximately in a horizontal plane and being spaced apartand dening throat openings therebetween, gutters having 14 side edgesdisposed above and vertically spaced from said throat openings,vertically rising baie members standing above said lower trough membersand rising between each pair of adjacent gutters and exteriorly of eachof the outermost gutters, auxiliary baie members rising from above saidlower trough members, and between the respective edges of said guttersand adjacent vertically rising baies and having upper portions thereofvertically spaced from and overlapping said respective edges of saidgutters, means for supporting said members in xed spacial relationship,and means for draining said trough members away from said throatopenings.

14. A roof ventilator for a roof opening comprising, in combination, aplurality of parallel approximately level lower trough members havingupper edges approximately in a horizontal plane and spaced apart anddefining throat openings therebetween for gases entering: the ventilatorfrom said roof opening, a plurality of parallel approxi mately levelupper trough members spaced apart no less than the width of said throatopenings and having greater Width than said throat openings and eachoverlying a throat opening and excluding vertically falling raintherefrom and vertically spaced thereabove a distance no less than halfthe width of said throat openings, baffle members extending parallel tosaid trough members above said lower trough members and between saidupper trough members and excluding diagonally falling rain from saidthroat openings, all said members being formed and spaced from andrelated to each other to define therebetween substantially continuouslyupwardly inclined paths for gases owing from said roof opening throughthe ventilator and of substantially increasing cross-sectional area fromsaid throat openings and with gentle changes in direction conducive ofnon-turbulent ow through the ventilator, means supporting said membersin spaced relation to each other, means draining water from saidtroughs, and means for diverting water away from the said roof opening.

15. The ventilator of claim l1 in which` certain of said baie membersextend below said throat openings.

16. The ventilator of claim 11 in which said upper trough members haveside edges and certain of said battle members have portions whichoverlie and are vertically spaced from the adjacent side edge.

17. The ventilator of claim 11 in which said upper trough members havelateral edges and certain of said baiie members rise to a greater heightthan the adjacent lateral edges of said upper trough members and certainother of said baie members are disposed between each said edge of saidupper trough members and adjacent first batile member and intersect allstraight lines between the top of said adjacent first baie member andthe space between said edge and the adjacent upper side edge of saidlower trough members. t

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,009,870 Black July 30, 1935 2,127,099 Whitaker Aug. 16, 1938 2,134,143Paget Oct. 25, 1938 2,232,027 Gunter Feb. 18, 1941 2,404,961 Hoch July30, 1946 2,601,423 Allman et al June 24, 1952 2,687,685 Knutson et alAug. 31, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS $51.198 Great Britain Feb. 1l, 1943

